Alabama and Michigan were part of the four-team College Football Playoff last season, with the Wolverines eventually capturing the national title.
The teams meet again this postseason, albeit on a considerably smaller stage.
The No. 11 Crimson Tide and Michigan look to end underachieving seasons with a victory when they meet on Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Tampa, Fla.
Alabama (9-3) was the last team omitted from the new 12-team playoff format, while the Wolverines (7-5) weren’t even in the running.
That represents quite a descent for a Michigan program that beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime in last season’s CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl before rolling to a 34-13 victory over Washington in the championship game.
The New Year’s Eve game is more for pride this season with no true way to salvage the season.
But Alabama standout guard Tyler Booker has found a goal worth fighting for — stretching the Crimson Tide’s streak of 10-win seasons to 17.
“There’s a lot of goals that we had set out in front of us before this year took place,” Booker told reporters. “And, obviously, we can’t achieve most of those goals now. But one of the goals that is left to achieve is reaching 10 wins. So that’s at the forefront of our minds right now, and going out to Tampa and getting a ‘W’.”
The Crimson Tide are beat up in the secondary with the recent news that All-American safety Malachi Moore underwent season-ending surgery.
Alabama had previously lost Keon Sabb due to injury for the season with a lower-body injury, and fellow safety DeVonta Smith left the program and transferred to Notre Dame.
The Crimson Tide have even lost two players to Michigan since the transfer portal opened — defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. and running back Justice Haynes.
Haynes (448 yards) was the backup to top running back and second-leading rusher Jamarion Miller (641). Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Richard Young (140 yards on 25 carries) will receive a big increase in playing time.
“Richard will be ready to go, just as he always is,” DeBoer said. “He’s a strong running back, and does a lot of things. … When somebody leaves at your position, you have more opportunities to take advantage of.”
Quarterback Jalen Milroe leads the Crimson Tide with 719 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Milroe also has passed for 2,652 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Michigan quarterback Davis Warren is in an odd predicament as the Wolverines recently signed the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class in Bryce Underwood, who is expected to start at quarterback from the moment he steps on campus.
Warren hasn’t decided if he will enter the transfer portal, but he has had extensive chats with coach Sherrone Moore.
“He’s been clear that he cares about me and wants what’s best for me and wants me to be at Michigan,” Warren said of Moore. “That’s been clear. I know in this day and age what that looks like.”
The downside is Warren has more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (six).
The Wolverines will be short-handed in the bowl as defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland and running back Donovan Edwards are among the players who have opted out in favor of the NFL draft.
One player thrilled about the opportunity to play is defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, who broke his right leg in the first quarter of last season’s contest against Alabama.
“I didn’t get a chance to play last year,” Benny told reporters, “so this will be my national championship.”
The teams have split six previous meetings, with five of the matchups coming in bowl games. This is the third time they have met in Tampa, with Alabama posting a 17-14 victory in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 1997, and the Wolverines notching a 28-24 win in the Hall of Fame Bowl on Jan. 2, 1988.
–Field Level Media
